# classes

/ˈkɫæsəz/ (US) · /klˈɑːsɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/classes
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. school/education

noun · CEFR A1

groups of students who meet to learn a particular subject with a teacher.

For teachers: groups of students meeting regularly for instruction in a specific subject or course.

- She has three classes on Tuesday mornings, starting with history.
- The university cancelled all afternoon classes due to the heavy snowfall, advising students to check their portals for remote learning assignments.

### 2. social groups

noun · CEFR B1

the different groups that people are divided into based on their wealth or job.

For teachers: the hierarchical divisions of society based on economic, social, or hereditary status.

- The book explores the differences between the working and middle classes.
- Sociologists argue that the boundaries between social classes have become increasingly blurred in post-industrial economies.

### 3. categories

noun · CEFR B2

groups of things that have similar qualities or features.

For teachers: sets or categories of things sharing common attributes or characteristics.

- The library organizes books into different classes based on their topic.
- The new safety regulations apply to several classes of commercial vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks and passenger buses.

### 4. to categorize

verb · CEFR B2

to put someone or something into a specific group or category.

For teachers: to assign someone or something to a particular category or rank. The third-person singular present form.

- The law classes this type of behavior as a minor offense.
- The museum curator classes these particular artifacts as late Bronze Age, though some researchers dispute the timeline.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, often followed by 'as'.

## Examples

- I have three classes on Tuesday mornings.
- The school offers evening classes for adults who want to learn a new language after work.
- While some students prefer large lecture halls, others find that smaller classes allow for more direct interaction with the professor and a deeper exploration of the course material.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.